Call Me, Amore (The Dating Series #4)

CHAPTER 29

Amanda's POV

I should be in the venue by 6pm but it's already past 6pm and I'm still stuck in the traffic. Mag iisang oras na akong bumabyahe pero hindi pa rin umuusad ang mga sasakyan.

Sumilip ako sa bintana at napagtanto kong medyo malayo pa ng ibyabyahe ko.

Damn it!

I made sure na maaga ako umalis ng bahay but I didn't expect the traffic to be like this. Of all the days, bakit ngayon pa?!

Napahampas na lang ako sa manibela dahil sa frustration. The show will be starting within minutes and I have to be there or else worse thing might happen.

Nang medyo umuusad na ang traffic ay pinark ko ang sasakyan ko sa nearest fast food chain. If the traffic's going to be like this, then I'm gonna run my way through the venue.

20 minutes past 6...

Pinaltan ko muna ang sapatos ko ng flats at binitbit ang heels ko. Sa venue na lang ako magpapalit.

Huminga ako nang malalim at nagsimula nang tumakbo. Pasalamat na lang ako at tabing kalsada ung building na pagdadausan ng venue kaya nakabawas sa tatakbuhin ko.

Muli akong tumingin sa relo ko at 6:30pm na. Damn! The show's program is probably starting right now.

FUCK THIS!!!

I'm starting to get weary dahil ilang minuto na rin akong tumatakbo. Tumigil muna ako sa isang poste habang hinahabol ang hininga ko. My heart is beating rapidly and this is not a good thing but I know, this is not the time to rest. I should be there.

Tiningnan ko muli ang relo ko at 6:45 na. Tumayo ako at muling tumakbo. Pinagtitinginan na rin ako ng mga nakakasalubong ko because for all I know, I already look like a mess right now.

My eyes are starting to get blurry at nahihilo na rin ako. I was in the middle of running when my phone started to ring.

Ms. Niña calling...

I was struggling to push the 'answer' button and my hands are starting to shake.

No Amanda...this is not the right time to dwell on your trauma.

I was about to click it nang may bumusina sa likuran ko. When I turned my head, a lady in her early 40s (I think) is looking at me through her car window.

"S-sorry---"

"Are you Amanda Cheng?" nakangiti nyang tanong. I don't know her, I don't think I've seen her before pero kahit nag aalangan ako sumagot ay tumango ako.

"Y-yes I am." I said while panting.

"I saw you running a while ago. You're also heading to the fashion show?" mabilis akong tumango. "Hop in. Sabay ka na sakin."

She looks nice at mapagkakatiwalaan kaya pumasok na ako sa loob ng sasakyan nya. She started driving while throwing quick glances on me. Napansin siguro nyang hingal na hingal ako kaya inabutan nya ako ng tubig.

"T-thank you."

"Are you planning to run your way to the venue?" she asked.

"Yes. The traffic's so heavy so I decided to run instead." she started laughing and shaking her head.

"Quite a reckless woman. You remind me of my younger self." she smiles. "But you do realize that it's a long way ahead yet you continue?"

"I got no choice. I have to be there."

"The show's starting already. Halos 1 hour late ka na."